Plant, Tree & Shrub Library

Other Names:  Eastern Ninebark, Donna May Ninebark

Description:

A compact upright shrub with lemon yellow emerging leaves that mature to chartreuse; features small white flowers in spring, and interesting peeling papery bark; extremely tough and durable; a great color accent for general garden use

Ornamental Features

Lemon Candy Ninebark features showy clusters of white flowers at the ends of the branches from mid to late spring. It has buttery yellow-variegated chartreuse foliage which emerges lemon yellow in spring. The small serrated lobed leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. It produces red capsules from early to mid fall. The peeling tan bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Lemon Candy Ninebark is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Lemon Candy Ninebark is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Lemon Candy Ninebark will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.